Foil seat for a semi-rigid boat

ABSTRACT

Semi-rigid boat sailing on a foil (1) comprising a foil well for raising the foils on the boat in the high position, characterized in that the foils are foils with shortened arms positioned laterally at the level of the driver&#39;s seat (12), the foil well fits into the driver&#39;s seat which is a trunk with two side doors (41, 42) which open onto the foil position stop adjustments (43, 44), inside the seat trunk there is a shock absorber (44) to cushion navigation shocks.

The present invention relates to a foil seat for a semi-rigid boat. Semi-rigid boats are a well-known type of motorized boat that can be equipped with a hydrofoil in the water, also called a foil. The patent FR 17/70741 is well known that which describes a semi-rigid boat with foils. It appears in this description, that the formwork of the foils on the boat is done at the level of the cockpit. The cockpit houses in particular the control devices and the steering wheel.

With the solution of the prior art, it is impossible to place the foils elsewhere than in the cockpit. Why ? Because the deployment of the foils in the storage position imposes a height of more than 1 meter above the level of the floor of the boat.

An object of the invention is to improve the quality of the ergonomics of life of the passengers on the boat both in high speed navigation condition, and in stationary condition or low speed navigation condition. In particular by increasing the available rear surface when the boat is moving at high speed.

An object of the invention is to adapt the cockpit of the boat to the conditions of navigation with foils. It is well understood that the modification of the cockpit also has repercussions on the lift of the boat and in particular the position of its center of gravity.

An object of the invention is also to improve the comfort felt during navigation.

In a main aspect, the invention proposes a modification of the positioning of the center of gravity of the boat and of the steering position. This major modification is in particular permitted by the adaptation of the present invention. The modification of locations according to invention is modifying the positioning of the center of gravity and modifies and improves the perceived quality of comfort. More precisely, by adapting foils to a boat, it appears that the boat pitches up less. The invention therefore proposes to advance the center of gravity of the boat to provide better habitability. A problem solved by the invention is that the foils must not affect the quality of the habitability. It was therefore agreed to shorten them and position them under a particularly suitable seat.

Commonly semi-rigid steering seats are either simple chests with a cushion, or stools on a shock absorber.

The present invention proposes a seat box particularly suitable for housing the foils and for being able to operate them easily. The change in the center of gravity of the boat which is moved forward and the loading of the foils under the seat is made possible by the installation of new foils with shortened perfected shafts with wedging stop.

The invention will be better understood on reading the appended figures in which

FIG. 1 represents a section of a semi-rigid boat according to the prior art

FIG. 2 represents a side view of a semi-rigid boat equipped with the present invention

FIG. 3 represents a top view of a semi-rigid boat equipped with the present invention

FIG. 4 shows a section of the seat box of the present invention

FIG. 5 shows a top view of the foil deployment trigger principle.

FIG. 1 represents a section of a semi-rigid boat according to the prior art with a the cockpit (11) that includes the piloting controls and in particular the steering wheel, the foils (1) which rise and which descend at the interior of the cockpit depending on the navigation conditions. Shown to the right of the cockpit (11) is the seat (12). It is well understood that foils that descend a height (Hv) underwater need to ascend a height (Hv) when the foils rise. And this height (Hv) translation is made possible in the cockpit because the steering wheel is located substantially at shoulder height of pilot. This is impossible with a seat because the foils could not rise sufficiently in the storage position and would be blocked.

FIG. 2 shows a side view of a semi-rigid boat equipped with the present invention in which the cockpit (11) has been moved forward of the boat, the seat (12) has also been moved forward on the boat in front of the foils (1) according to the old position of the prior art. In this position, the foils come into the boat and are stored under the seat (12).

FIG. 3 represents a sectional view of the new layout of the boat arrangement with foils at seat position, and with a maximum height under water (Hs) which is reduced compared to the height (Hv) previous. This is possible without modifying the quality of navigation because the advance of the center of gravity presses the boat on the water in a high-speed navigation position and the foils need less to be long to get lift in the water.

FIG. 4 shows a sectional view of the seat (12) according to the invention which has the shape of a box with two side doors (41, 42) to access the high and or low wedging adjustment of each foil (1). The settings are a combination of hooks (43) on the box and stop (44) on the foil which allow the foil to be wedged in the high or low position. The actuation of the foils can be done by hand by straps or can be motorized. The inside of the seat has a shock absorber (45) which absorbs shocks and gives the pilot a comfortable seat.

FIG. 5 shows a top view of the principle of the actuating trigger (60) for translation of the foil which, when actuated, frees a space (61) to block or not this space for the passage of the foil (1) by the play of the position of the stops (44) with the vertical translation of the foil (1) in this passage (61). The pilot has two triggers (60) each positioned on each of the side openings of the seat box. He can thus easily while remaining seated, control the translation of the foils by simply lowering his hand just below his buttocks.

The present invention therefore relates to a semi-rigid boat navigating on a foil (1) comprising a foil well for raising the foils on the boat in the high position, characterized in that the foils are foils with shortened arms positioned laterally at the level of the driver's seat (12), the foil well fits into the driver's seat which is a trunk with two side doors (41, 42) which open onto the foil position stop settings (43, 44), inside the seat box is provided with a shock absorber (44) to absorb the shocks of navigation

The present invention therefore relates to a semi-rigid boat sailing on a foil (1) characterized in that the actuating triggers (60) for translation of the foils (1) in the foil well are positioned under the seat of each side of the seat with an opening in the side doors (41, 42) about ten centimeters below the level of the pilot's buttocks which allows the pilot to operate the actuating triggers while remaining seated and positioning his hands under the level of her buttocks. 

1. Semi-rigid boat navigating on a foil (1) comprising a foil well for raising the foils on the boat in the high position, characterized in that the foils are foils with shortened arms positioned laterally at the level of the driver's seat (12), the foil well fits into the driver's seat which is a box with two side doors (41, 42) which open onto the foil position stop adjustments (43, 44), inside the seat box is arranged a shock absorber (45) to dampen the shocks of navigation
 2. Semi-rigid boat sailing on foil (1) according to claim 1 characterized in that actuating triggers (60) for translation of the foils (1) in the foil well are positioned under the seat on each side of the seat with an opening in the side doors (41, 42) about ten centimeters below the level of the pilot's buttocks which allows the pilot to actuate the actuating triggers while remaining seated and positioning his hands below the level of his buttocks on either side of the sides of the seat 